North Carolina State University Athletics
Women's Hoops Is Going Dancing as 10th Seed
3/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 14, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. -
NCAA Tournament Bracket in PDF Format
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Briefly:
First and Second Rounds
Bridgeport, Conn.
March 21 and 23 (7 p.m./TBA)
Hosted by Fairfield University
Tickets: $35.00 (203.254.4000 x 4136
website: www.fairfieldstags.com
NC State departure: Friday afternoon
NC State Record in Tournament: 17-16
Last Time in Tournament: 2001 (Regionals)
Farthest Advanced: 1998 Final Four
NC State vs. seven seed: 2-0
NC State as a 10 seed: 1-1
Last time as 10 seed: 1999 (Second Round)
NC State women's basketball (17-14, 8-8) was selected as a 10 seed to participate in the 23rd Annual NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The Wolfpack will face the seventh-seeded No. 21/21 Auburn Tigers in the first round on Sunday, March 21, 2004 in Bridgeport, Conn. The venue is hosted by Fairfield University and will also feature the neighboring Connecticut Huskies (2 seed) versus the Pennsylvania Quakers (15 seed). Game times are listed below:
NCAA Women's Basketball First & Second Rounds - Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yard - Bridgeport, Conn.
First Round (Sunday, March 21) Game Times
No. 7 seed Auburn (21-8) vs. No. 10 seed NC State (17-14): 7 p.m. eastern (ESPN2)
No. 2 seed Connecticut (25-4) vs. No. 15 seed Pennsylvania (17-10): Approximately 30 minutes following first game (ESPN2)
TV Talent: Play-by-Play is Dan Shulman, Color Analyst is Doris Burke
Second Round (Tuesday, March 23) Game Times TBA (Television ESPN or ESPN2)
The Wolfpack was one of 33 at-large bids of the 64-member field. The Pack enters the tournament with a 17-16 overall record after 16 previous appearances. NC State has not been to the tournament since advancing to the regionals back in 2001. The one and only other time NC State has been selected as a 10 seed was in 1999 when the squad advanced to the second round in Lubbock, Texas. NC State is tied for 10th all-time in NCAA appearances with the 16 since 1982. Only nine other teams since that first tournament have had more selections. The winner will advance to play in the East Regional set for March 27 and 29 in Hartford, Conn. NC State and Auburn will meet for the first time.
NC State will enter the game led by Kodak/WBCA All-America finalist Kaayla Chones. The senior centered was the Wolfpack's leading scorer and rebounder all season and finished with averages of 14.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg. The Pack will also welcome back the handles of junior point guard Kendra Bell who was sidelined for the ACC Tournament after being diagnosed with mononucleosis just prior to the tournament. She was NC State's starting point guard and averaged 7.2 ppg and 2.86 apg. Senior captain Nanna Rivers is the team's leading assist-maker as she dishes out 3.45 apg. NC State's head coach Kay Yow owns a 586-280 all-time coaching record in her 29 seasons at the helm of the Wolfpack. All 17 NCAA appearances have been under her tutelage.
The Wolfpack's opponent will be Auburn, which finished with an overall record of 21-8 and was 9-5 in the SEC. Le'Coe Willingham who was also named a Kodak/WBCA All-America finalist will lead the Tigers. The senior forward leads Auburn in points per game and in rebounds with averages of 16.4 ppg and 9.2 rpg. Junior guard Natasha Bracket is also averaging double figures with her 12.3 ppg. Junior guard Nicole Louden leads the team in assists with 4.3 apg. Auburn is directed by 25th year head coach Joe Ciampi. The veteraned coach owns a record of 567-202 at the helm of the Tigers.
